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the freeing, supportive presence of God. So your experience of God may
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"In the Midst of Darkness, A Ray of Hope"
January 8, 2006
Did you notice? Have you heard about it? Fourteen days of no sun! It was proclaimed as a brand new record for WNY.
Actually, before it had been announced as part of the weather forecast, I hadn't even noticed. I guess I just don't have expectations for the sun during the winter; I do, however, have great expectations for the sun during the summer!
Winter time brings with it shorter hours of daylight and longer hours of darkness. I guess that's why I seem to appreciate any kind of light, whenever it comes, even though it isn't direct sunlight.
After all, we are in the season of death and dormancy. You know the cycle-spring, summer, fall, and winter. "Winter" in WNY being the word for short daylight and, of course, snow!
We not only live in quite a bit of physical darkness, but we also live in a world of moral and spiritual darkness. Nevertheless, even during the darkness, we are never without hope of the light which always comes.
Our Scripture this morning reminds us of a truly dark time when King Herod was frightened by the prospect of a new king that would obviously challenge his authority and power. He set about to destroy the baby Jesus, first through the use of the foreign "wise men."
It doesn't take long to realize that King Herod was not a king of the people; he was a king for the sake of himself. King Herod was feared and hated, and ultimately was one of the very definitions of evil in his day. Next week's Scripture will go into even more detail of his evil ways.
What is the evil in our day? There is hunger and poverty throughout the world. Injustice abounds even in the civilized and democratic countries. Religious fervor gone amuck kills people today as it did during the crusades and inquisitions. Intolerance, hatred and judgment are victorious over common sense and civility.
Just this week, Israel's prime minister, Ariel Sharon suffered more than one stroke and at least three surgeries. The news media showed a Palestinian man, responding to Sharon's pain by saying, "I wish he had died."
Then it showed an American, Pat Robertson by name, who was seen and heard to say, "Perhaps this is God's punishment on Sharon for removing the Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip." Rev. Robertson also lifted one verse of Scripture out of its context in an attempt to justify his statement.
Does Mr. Robertson actually believe that God goes around with some kind of celestial axe, chopping away at people's blood vessels or jamming them full with cholesterol and plaque? Is this Mr. Robertson's god?
Friends, I wish to go on record this morning by asking God to watch over Ariel Sharon this day, and if it be within his gracious and compassionate Will, heal him and return him to some level of working again toward peace in the Middle East, for we know that "blessed are the peacemakers."
Let us work hard at turning anger and negativism to compassion and optimism (which is another word for hope).
Trust compassion over anger.
Trust tolerance over judgment. Trust civility over insolence.
Trust love over unkindness.
You know, now that I think about it, during those fourteen days of no sun, I do remember a beam of sunlight piecing through my southwest window in mid-morning . . . not once, but twice.
This must mean that even when things look and feel the worst, when we are down on our luck, when we seem to hurt more than heal, when others make us cry instead of laugh, God always provides a ray of hope for the dawn. And that ray of hope is with us in the power and presence of God's Holy Spirit.
So whether it be health issues, family issues, community or even world issues, let us trust in the Lord always, for when the dawn is upon us, we will be able to look back and identify the many sporadic rays of hope that were directed toward us during the times of our greatest need.
After all, God has promised that he will never leave us nor forsake us, but rather infuse us with his Holy Spirit as a comforter, guide, and sustainer. Don't be misled by our human feelings-they often betray the truth of the wider picture. Rather, let us look to God, the author and finisher of our faith, for the healing and perspective that is so vital to our daily living.
Do you see it now? Can you sense it? There is a ray of hope beaming down on each of us. As we come to commune, the Holy Spirit envelopes us with, and assures us of, his powerful presence. Come now, one and all, and commune with God through Christ. Amen.
